WTTC: UK must ditch ‘failed’ traffic light system
The UK government should abandon the ‘failed and damaging’ traffic light system now if the travel sector wants to avoid total collapse, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says.
Unless it is scrapped, hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the UK could be lost, it claims.
It also warned that the UK will lose out on crucial funding, investment, and spending, and that conference investment in the UK is already being relocated to neighbouring European countries.
Furthermore, it says the UK will squander its competitive advantage generated by the successful vaccine rollout.
The WTTC calls for fully vaccinated travellers, and those with proof of a negative test to travel once more to countries with similar, or higher vaccination levels to the UK.
A more transparent and easier to understand approach would restore consumer confidence, it says.
Virginia Messina, World Travel & Tourism Council Senior Vice President and Acting CEO, said: "It’s time the government abandoned the hugely damaging traffic lights system. It has been incredibly disruptive and costly for both travel businesses and consumers. It simply hasn’t worked."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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